hyenas pick them up, sometimes store them underwater and then wait until they are softer...just returned from a safari in a neighbouring country and witnessed the carcass of a (subadult) hippo being reduced to shattered bones within 72 hours

You find many bone pieces in the bush, all in various states of returning to the earth as minerals. Many bones are never eaten by large animals but are broken down by insects, water, sun, physical ware, etc.

Depending on where it ends up it can remain in tact for many years. Teeth are particularly hardy.

Great photo Okie,Love the Bateleur on the carcass, I am sure he did feel like he had won the jackpot! Mine, all Mine!The elephant video is amazing, they made quick work of it!

In Yellowstone it usually takes almost a week for a dead Bison to be reduced to bone, that is with Grizzly Bear, wolves, Coyotes and birds all picking at it. SO the quick work on an ellie is quite amazing!

Re the post back in January with the elephant video. There were two tv programs on about a year ago.One on an elephant, and one a hippo.

The producers rigged up multiple cameras around the carcasses and followed the action, 24/7 over a number of days. Really interesting to watch. Amazing to see how some predators, not normally thought of as scavengers (lions, leopards) ate some really old, rank meat.